Vintage hankie quilt

A little while ago, I received a commission from someone (all the way over in Boulder, Colorado!) who asked if I could make a quilt out of hankies that belonged to her grandmother. The quilt was for her daughter, who is named after her great grandmother and whose initial is embroidered on some of the hankies. I was quite moved by the idea, and also a little daunted... it's one thing to make a quilt for someone with fabrics from a store, and quite another to make a quilt out of someone's family heirlooms.

But a couple of months later (I have very little time without my two little ones around and so I'm still getting used to managing to do anything other than save lego constructions being eaten etc) and the quilt is finished. And happily, everyone loves it. It was such a lovely project and so lovely to be able to create something meaningful and something that will hopefully be treasured.

This week...

Here's a few snaps from around the house over the last week or two. I'm 39 weeks now, and the nesting is in full swing. When we moved into this house at the start of summer, it was an insanely busy time, and many cupboards had stuff just chucked in and were closed, never to be opened again unless in an emergency. Unfortunately, some of those cupboards were ones that needed regular opening, you know, like the pantry. So lately, I've been pulling things out, sorting, cleaning, rearranging and putting back. OH SO satisfying. 

And we now have a spare room, which is a first, and is pretty exciting. It's become a sewing room/baby change room/ study/ general extra space room and I'm loving it. 

The rest of the house gets messy again as soon as I've cleaned it, but hey, I guess that's just family life and I'm realising that it's not worth the stress of worrying too much about it. 

1. Rocket going to seed in our veggie garden makes pretty table arrangements.

2. The spare room. So amazing to be able to keep a sewing table set up, rather than cleaning it off the dining table each night! 

3. And it actually makes sewing a quilt a much faster process - I'm more likely to just go and do a few minutes of work here and there when I've got the chance. So this little commission has just been finished and is about to be sent to new owners who have just had a baby - just trying it out over the bassinet for our own soon to arrive newcomer (eek)! 

4. Silly faces over 'dipping eggs'. 

5. Dried flowers - love a bit of low maintenance decoration - and old school bathroom windows. 

xx 

*Linking in with Em*

A newbie...

Every commissioned quilt now seems to become a new favourite... They're getting harder and harder to part with!

Fun, quirky and... bright

I received a commission a little while back from a lovely lady, asking if I could make a king-single sized quilt for her soon-to-be two year old daughter, Kate. It was to go on her new big girl bed in her new room. The request was for bold colours, not too matchy matchy, fun and quirky and, well... bright.

It's the largest quilt I've made to date, and there were a few challenges along the way, but I had fun with it and learnt a few new tricks and am so happy with how it's turned out. And so are its new owners... I dropped it off in person and took a few snaps of it in its gorgeous new room (though the first few below are on my own bed). Happy birthday Kate!

(As usual, there's a few fabrics from some of my favourite local fabric makers including Umbrella Prints and Maze & Vale)

One for baby Finn..

It's been a while since sharing some quilt pictures here, so here's a few of a little one that went off to some beautiful friends who brought their first child - little Finn - into the world a few weeks ago. We love you Finn...

(yes, there is actually a small child in that last photo).

reddy red red.

I finished three quilts this week. Today was the first time in months that Leo's nap time has been spent NOT running at 100 miles/hour to try and fit in sewing and cleaning and cooking and sewing. It was just cleaning and cooking instead.

But stupidly and very annoyingly, in the mad rush to finish off things and get to the post office earlier in the week, I completely forgot to photograph two of the three quilts. And I only managed a few rushed shots of the third before it was delivered to our friends and their new baby this morning. So these'll just have to do.

I have one more comissioned quilt to start this week - the biggest I've done yet - and then it's a little break for a while (including a proper actual holiday kind of break in Far North QLD... I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to that).

Umbrella Prints Trimmings Comp 2013

I'll be the first to admit that there's nothing ground breaking going on here. But this little patchwork cushion made with a sample of this year's trimmings from Umbrella Prints actually has me quite chuffed. And it's pretty much down to the mix of their prints and colours... it just seems to WORK. I threw in a few fabrics from me ol' favourites Maze & Vale and Ink & Spindle and voila.... my entry into this year's Trimmings competition.
I was asked to make a cushion as well as a quilt for a recent commission, and it got me inspired. I had never thought to make a quilted, patchworked cushion before. But now I love doing them. It doesn't take me too long, I can throw offcuts and trimmings together and they look great. And people seem to love them, including my son who now has a selection of three on his new big boy bed (good for playing cubbies, hiding behind when he doesn't want to get dressed and sleeping on!)

I've made a few now, but this one is definitely my favourite. And what's extra nice about it, is that it's being donated to help raise money for an organisation that a friend of mine runs called Playground Ideas. They help build playgrounds for some of the world's most disadvanted children, and they are a fab little getup. If you're in Melbourne, think about coming along to their East African Soiree at the end of May. Who knows, you may even end up getting your hands on this little baby...

Quilt and baby blanket SALE!

phew, those markets are really exhausting.

Exhausting but wonderful. Wonderful to meet some of you who visit this little place - thank you! Wonderful to be inspired by so many other local creative people, wonderful to connect with others and see this tiny dream and venture come to life.

I've been enjoying a more relaxed pace this week, and time to you know, clean the house and other exciting stuff like that. Actually, it's been a big week in some ways. After over 2 years, our little fella has finally moved into his own room and his own big boy bed, made by his very own papa. But more on that shortly.

In the meantime, I'm here to tell you about a little sale that's happening right now in my etsy shop. I've got some baby quilts and blankets that have been around for a while now, and I'm clearing the shop for some new stock. So if you're interested, head on over and have a look. A few of them are in the photos below.

Thanks again for all your interest and support and for visiting this space. I really do appreciate it!
xx joanna

 

Che and Fidel giveaway

So if you look closely, you'll see one of my creations up there in the gorgeous and decadent Autumn giveaway by Che & Fidel. Not that you'd know it's Autumn here in Melbourne - 9 days of above 30 degrees and we're all pretty over it. Pretty over talking about it too, so I'll stop there and just say thanks Jodi for featuring Miette Handmade!
And you can click on the above link or here to go in the running for all these and more (if you haven't already...)

A new favourite...

Hello there...
Here's another little quilt that went on its merry way to happy recipients last week. Modelled most graciously by my little fella, Leo.

The backing fabric was one of my Paris purchases... making it just that little bit extra special. I had some trouble parting with it!
xx

It's been a while...

I've been enjoying a significant reduction in internet use lately. Some time down at the beach, a broken phone* and a general difficulty in getting back into the swing of things has meant that I've been away from many of these little online spaces. And truth be told, it's been lovely. But I thought I'd pop back here to share some pictures of a quilt I made while I was in France. I received a commission to create a cot quilt and a matching cushion for an impending new baby and from all reports, the new owners are pleased as punch. As am I.

*the lack of motivation in getting it fixed is perhaps telling me something.